Chapter 1- Installation and Operation .................................................................................................... 1-1
Section 1. Components of the DCU-1 "Pathfinder" digital Control Unit.......................................... 1-1
General ............................................................................................................................................. 1-1
Section 2. DCU-1 Digital Control Unit Specifications...................................................................... 1-2
Section 1. Components of the DCU-1 "Pathfinder" Digital Control Unit
General Description
The DCU-1 "Pathfinder" digital control unit fea-
tures 6 memory presets, automatic brake delay
(8 seconds), automatic motor slowdown (last 5
degrees), automatic motor control on startup,
programmable center of rotation, full circle
analog display of current and target bearings,
digital display of current and target bearings,
automatic display blanking of target bearings,
automatic display blanking (30 minutes), RS232 control with passthrough, and an 8 pin
socket for the control cable.
Your existing rotator unit (HAM IV, T2X, or
compatible) must be connected to the control
unit with an 8-wire cable. You may use your
existing cable, you may assemble your own
cable from the information supplied in this
manual
The DCU-1 "Pathfinder" digital control unit
consists of the following main components:
PN 870804 DCU-1 Control Unit Assembly
PN 870805 Parts Pack DCU-1 (120 VAC)
PN 870843 Parts Pack DCU-1 (220 VAC)
or you may purchase pre-assembled
Section 2. DCU-1 Digital Control Unit
(
)
DCU-1 Digital Control Unit Specifications:
Size
8.5"x4.3"x9.0" (W x H x D)
21.6 x 11.0 x 22.8 cm
Control Unit Display:
TypeGas Plasma, Amber filter
Scale5 degree (Analog), 1 degree (Digital)
BlankingTarget Bearing (8 seconds)
Total (30 minutes after no activity)
Display Life30,000 to 40,000 Hours
Memory Presets6, independently programmable
Rotation CenterUser selectable,
Brake Delay
Automatic Motor Control
Front Panel Controls
Figure 1
Front View
Section 3. Precautions
g
Metal towers must be grounded properly at the
tower location before the DCU-1 "Pathfinder" is
connected to the rotator. This is to minimize
electrical hazard and the possibility of lightning
damage. DO NOT bury bare aluminum wires or
stakes in the ground. Use copper or copper-clad
ground stakes. The service entrance ground
should be checked. The household convenience
outlet should be the 3-prong type (grounded back
to the service entrance). Connect a ground wire to
the DCU-1 ground terminal.
The DCU-1 Control Unit is not weatherproof and
must be located in a house or other protected
location. The DCU-1 should not be exposed to
temperatures over 130°F!
NOTE:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if
not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is ao
guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receivin
- Increase the separation between the
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the receiver
- Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/TV technician for help.
The DCU-1 "Pathfinder" digital control unit has
been carefully designed and manufactured to give
many years of trouble-free service when carefully
and professionally installed. It consists of the
strongest and best commercially available components.
Section 4. Installation
Precautions
1. Unbalanced weight: Weight should be as
closely balanced as possible. Unbalanced
weight in an antenna creates a bending
moment of force which is concentrated on the
mast at the point where it is clamped to the
rotator.
2. Wind Pressure: Balanced wind pressure
against the antenna system produces a bending
force on the mast which can cause the same
stresses as unbalanced weight. To minimize
these forces, a thrust bearing should be used
where possible, the antenna should be as close
to the top of the tower as possible and the
rotator shelf should be as low as possible.
3. Unbalanced Wind: If the antenna has unequal
wind areas and element spacings on each side
of the mast attachment point, it could produce
torque on the support mast. This is similar to
the principle of a weather vane. If the
unbalance is high enough or the wind velocity
is high enough, this could prevent rotation or
could damage the limit switches. To minimize
this effect, the antenna should be designed for
minimum mast torque or "torque
compensators" added to produce minimum
mast torque.
4. Mast Binding: If the antenna support mast
binds within the tower due to ice
accumulation or other reasons, this could
prevent rotation.
5. Extreme Cold: If the ambient temperature is at
or below -30 degrees F, this could prevent
rotation. Older HAM-M, II, III or IV and
older T2X units may be sluggish at
temperatures less than 0 degrees F.
The DCU-1 checks for rotator movement upon
pressing "START", and if no movement is
detected within 8 seconds, it will stop trying to
rotate.
Section 5. Wiring and Check-Out
Wiring and Check-Out
l. Write down the colors of the wires attached to
your existing rotator control unit:
2. Disconnect the wires from your existing
control unit. Attach these to the 8-pin
connector to the same numbered pins.
3. If this is a new installation, assemble the
rotator cable as shown in Figure 3, or
purchase a pre-assembled cable. Temporarily
attach the mounting screws to the bottom of
the rotor unit. These will be used to support
the rotator during bench-testing.
NOTE: The specifications call for heavier gauge
wire in two locations. Leads #1 and #2 must be
heavier gauge and less total lead resistance.
CAUTION: Shorts between terminals or
grounded leads may damage the rotator. Check
the numbered pins on each connector with an
Ohmmeter! Pin 1 is connected to pin 1, etc.
CAUTION:
The new connector is numbered differently
than the terminal strip. Pay close attention to
the pin numbers! You may wish to check your
wiring by measuring the rotator resistances as
shown in Section 9, Table 5.
4. With the rotator sitting in the upright position
(either on the bench or on the tower) and connected to the control unit by the 8-wire cable,
plug the control unit power cord into a receptacle. At this time, the rotator brake wedge
may momentarily release and re-engage. This
is normal.
5. The DCU-1 display should look similar to the
display shown in Figure 4. The numeric
display in the lower left corner indicates the
current bearing of your rotator. The numeric
display in the lower right corner indicates the
target bearing. If both displays read a steady
"000", disconnect your control cable and
check the cable wiring with an ohmm eter. See
Section 9, "Checking the Rotator Resistances
from the Ground". Proceed if the cable checks
OK.
NOTE: After approximately 30 seconds of inactivity, the target digital and analog displays will
blank (disappear). After 30 minutes of inactivity,
the entire display will blank. Push the
"DISPLAY" button to return normal display.
6. If the current bearing display shows a number
between "000" and "359", then proceed. Twist
the knob marked with the two (2) arrows
"(o)". The target bearing display should
change along with the inner circle tick mark.
Using the knob, select a target bearing at least
30 degrees from the current bearin g. Push the
"START" button. The brake in the rotator
should release, the rotator will turn a few
degrees in the opposite direction, reverse
direction, then turn to the target bearing.
During the last 5 degrees, the rotator will slow
down to half speed, then stop on or close to
the target bearing. The brake solenoid will
"hum" for 8 seconds, then the brake will
engage. During rotation, the outer circle tick
mark will move to the new bearing. If
operation does not work as described,
immediately unplug the unit from the AC line
and check cable wiring!
7. You may wish to repeat step 6 to confirm
operation over a wide range of bearings. If the
"STOP" button is depressed during rotation,
rotation will stop and the brake will engage 8
seconds later. If the operation is consistent,
roceed to the next step.
S. Determine the mechanical center of rotation at
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Amateur Radio Directory
this time. For example, if you rotate fro m East to
West through South , then Sout h (180 d egrees) is
your center of rotation. If you wish to change
your center of rotation, you must loosen the
mast-to-rotator clamps and reposition the
direction of your antenna. This should be done
before disconnecting your old control, however
it can be done after calibration of th e DC U-1.
The center of rotation can be selected as any
bearing between "000" and "359". Press
"DISPLAY" and hold until the letters "CAL"
appear in the center of the display. The rotator
should automatically turn to the mechanical
center of rotation. When it has reached this
position, the letters "SET" should appear in the
center of the display. Twist the knob until the
desired center of rotation is displayed in the
lower ri
ht corner.
Press the "START" button and hold until the
rotator starts to turn. The rotator will
automatically find both l imit switches and s et up
the calibration for the center of rotation you
selected. During this time, the letters "EPC" will
be displayed for "End Point Calibration". When
this process is fi nished, th e "EPC"
will disappear,
and the rotator i s ready for use . If you wish , you
may re-calibrate the rotator system at any time.
9. You may set the memory presets at this time or
at any time after the rotator system has been
installed. To st ore a beari ng int o a memor y loca tion, select a target bearing with the knob then
press and hold the appropriate memory location
button until the letters "PRE" light up. The
memory presets are stored in non-volatile
memory, and will stay in memory even if the
power is discon nected for a long period of time.
You may use previou sly stored memory presets
and the kno b t o select new bearin
s.
10. If this is a ne w i nst alla tion, ro tate t he s yste m to
the center of rotation. You are now ready to
install the rotator system in your tower or on
your mast. Re fer to t he in s tructions in your
rotator manual for complete inst allation
information.
Figure 4
DCU-1 Display
Section 6. Operation of DCU-1 Control
b
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Operation of DCU-1 Control Unit
Precautions:
1. Thermal Protection: If the rotator fails to turn
after 4 or 5 minutes of continuous operation,
the thermal switch has come into play. This
protective device in the transformer assembly
automatically shuts off power if the
transformer becomes too hot. It will
automatically reset after approximately 10
minutes.
2. Display Protection: The gas-plasma display
will be turned off during periods of inactivity
to extend its useful life. After approximately
30 seconds of inactivity, the target digital and
analog displays will blank (disappear). After
30 minutes of inactivity, the entire display
will blank. Push the "DISPLAY" button to
return normal display.
3. Brake Wedge Protection: The brake wedge
will only engage after waiting eight seconds
after removing power from the motor. This
allows large antenna systems to coast to a
complete stop before engaging the brake.
Even if the "STOP" button is pressed, the
system will still wait eight (8) seconds before
dropping the brake. The brake will
immediately engage if AC power is
disconnected from the control unit.
CAUTION:
Do not reverse rotation direction during rotation!
This will cause the system to hang with the brake
released. Pressing “STOP” will reset the system.
Normal Operation
The numeric display in the lower left corner and
the outer circle tick mark always indicates the
current bearing of your rotator. The numeric
display in the lower right corner and the inner
circle tick mark indicates the target bearing. This
display is also used during calibration to select
the center of rotation. The center alpha-numeric
display is used during the calibrate routine and to
indicate memory preset selections. The tick
marks may fluctuate between two marks if the
rotator is moving in the wind and the digital
earing ends with "2" or "T'.
To move the rotator to a new bearing, either the
knob, memory presets, or a combination of these
may be used to select the new bearing. To start
rotation to this new bearing, press "START". The
brake in the rotator will release, the rotator will
turn a few degrees in the opposite direction,
reverse direction, then turn to the target bearin g.
During the last 5 degrees, the rotator will slow
down to half speed, then stop on or close to the
target bearing. The brake solenoid will stay on
for 8 seconds, then the brake will engage. During
rotation, the outer circle tick mark will move to
the new bearing.
If the "STOP" button is pressed during rotation,
rotation will stop and the brake will engage 8
seconds later.
To store a bearing into a memory location, select
a target bearing with the knob then press and
hold the appropriate memory location button
until the letters "PRE" light up. You may use
previously stored memory presets and the knob
to select new bea
ings to store.
NOTE: The rotator may end up a few de grees of
the desired target bearing. This is because the
brake wedge locks into place every five (5)
degrees. This should not cause any problems in
most HF and VHF installations.
Computer Operation
The DCU-1 may be controlled from your
computer via a RS-232 cable connection. The
rear panel has two (2) RS-232 connectors. The
connector marked "HOST' is a DB9 female
connector and should be directly connected to the
host computer. Do not use a null-modem
connection. The connector marked "EXT" is a
DB9 male connector and should be connected to
other ham equipment such as a modem, TNC, or
radio interface unit. If the "EXT" connector is not
attached to other equipment, it should be
terminated with the supplied plug. The supplied
termination plug shorts DTR,DSR and DCD
(Pins 1,4,6) together and RTS and CTS (Pins 7
and 8) together.
The cable which is attached to the computer and
to the DCU-1 should have a DB9 male connector
at one end and either a DB9 female or DB25
female connector at the other end. The
connections should be straight through, e.g. pin 1
to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc if both ends have 9 pin
connectors. If a DB25 female connector is used to
attach to the computer's COM1 or COM2 port,
use the wiring guide shown in Figure 5. You may
also purchase a pre - assembled cable from HyGain to connect your computer to the DCU-1.
Order either DCU-9P or DCU-25P cable
assemblies.
Figure 5
Wiring Guide
Command:Result:
API***;Sets Target Bearing in DCU-
(***is a three digit number between 000 and 359)
AM 1;Starts Rotation to Target Bearing
Figure 6
Command Set
A sample BASIC program is shown in Figure 7
b
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pg
which can be used to control operation of the
DCU-1. Other software vendors may also include
the ability to directly control the DCU-1 from
within a logging or rig control program.
The commands are similar to those used by Kenwood in controlling radio operations. A summary
of unique commands is shown in Figure 6. The
COM port should be used at 4800 baud with no
parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and ASCII mode.
This is usually shown as "4800,N,8,1,ASC".
After a command is sent to the DCU-1, all other
motor and brake operation is automatic. There
are no provisions at this time to send current
earing information back to the computer.
You may wish to check with our Custome
Service Dept. from time to time in order to obtain
the latest firmware u
rades.
g
Troubleshootin
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Section 7. Troubleshootin
CAUTION: This unit has been thoroughly tested
and cycled before shipment. Follow the
connector wiring carefully between the rotator
and the DCU-1 control box. Pin #1 must attach to
Pin #1, etc... Incorrect wiring will burn out the
rotator potentiometer and void the warranty.
ProblemPossible Cause
Antenna Bearing doesn't match displayMast slipped in rotator clamp
Current Bearing changes randomlyPotentiometer broken or burned-up
or does not change at allShorts or opens in control cable
Antenna Bearing changes by itselfBrake wedge failure
The DCU-1 "Pathfinder" control unit is designed
to be used ONLY with Hy-Gain HAM-IV (type)
and T2X rotator systems. Do not try to use this
control on other systems!
Antenna slipped on mast
DCU-1 Calibration not performed
Extremely high RF field near rotato
DCU-1 MPU or A/D failure
Tower or DCU-1 not grounded
DCU-1 MPU failure
Current Bearing changes +/- less than 3 degreesAntenna rocking in high winds
Potentiometer dirty or poor connection
High RF field near rotato
Long (200') control cable
Rotator unable to reach target bearingTemperature less than -30 degrees F
Broken teeth in gears
Shorts or opens in control cable
Thermal cut-out in power transformer
Mast binding in towe
Old motor-start capacitor
High winds, high wind area
Control cable wire size too small
DCU-1 MPU failure
Rotator slow to reach target bearingTemperature between -30 and 0 degrees F
Broken teeth in gears
Mast binding in towe
Old motor-start capacitor
High winds, high wind area
Table 3
Ground Wires
r
cause
use to blow.
Most operational difficulties with rotators are
traceable to broken, shorted, grounded or
miswired control cables. Time spent on
assembling, routing and protecting the control
cable will lead to a long trouble-free rotator life.
Unintentional grounds on cable leads can burn
out the line fuse in the DCU-1 control box or
burn out the potentiometer in the rotator. If pin
#3 or pin #7 is grounded, it shorts out part of the
potentiometer so that as rotation progresses to the
other end, the full DC voltage is applied across a
decreasing portion until current becomes so high
that the potentiometer or the voltage regulator
burns cut. Note also that any grounds may put an
overload on the power transformer which could
the line f
Antenna Motion
Frequently the slight motion of the antenna arra y
in gusts of wind is due more to the natural
flexing of the elements and mast than to actual
play in the rotator mechanism. A slight amount
of "play" is built into the rotator to avoid binding
due to environmental changes.
Lack of Powe
If the antenna rotation is slow or sluggish or hard
to start, check for proper voltages on pins #2,5,
and 6. (See Table 4) If the voltages are correct,
the 130 - 156 MFD capacitor may be old. If your
unit is more than 5 years old, try replacing this
capacitor. Also, if your cable run is over 200 feet,
make sure that you are using the proper wire size.
See Table 2. For cable runs over 300 feet, you
may wish to move the motor capacitor to the
tower. This allows you to run only 6 wires from
the control to the rotator, so that you can reduce
wire resistance by doubling up wires or using
If the electrical circuit is working, then check for
mechanical problems. Look for mast binding or
thrust bearing misalignment if you have experienced strong winds recently. If the
temperature is less than -30 deg. F ( -34 deg. C ),
the rotator will be very sluggish or may not run at
all! This is normal. Do not try to rotate with the
DCU-1 control if temperatures are below -30 deg.
F ! Older models of HAM-M, 11, 111, IV and
T2X rotators may be very sluggish at
temperatures less than 0 degrees F.
If the antenna actually rotates in high winds, this
is usually just the mast slipping in the rotator or
the antenna slipping on the mast. For large
antennas, it is often necessary to drill a 5/16"
hole through the rotator clamping plate and mast
and pin them together with the bolt provided.
Also, if possible, pin the antenna to the mast with
appropriate hardware. If slipping is suspected,
return the rotator to an end of rotation limit and
visually check antenna alignment.
Checking the Control Unit Voltages
(
)
NOTE:
To check the control unit voltages, first remove
the rotator control cable from the DCU-1 control
box, then plug the line cord into a 110 VAC
outlet. Set the target bearing at least 10 degrees
from the current bearing. Press "START" to
check voltages on pins 2, 5, and 6. Check for the
following voltages on the 8 pin connector:
Pin #'sAmbient StatePress "START" (se e note )
1-2030 VAC
1-5030 VA C (for CW rotation to target)
1-60
4-800
3-7+ 5.0 VDC+ 5.0 VDC
You have 8 seconds after pressing "START" to
make each measurement. The DCU-1 checks for
movement, and after 8 seconds without
movement, it stops trying to rotate. You may
wish to make your meter connections with
alligator clips, then press "START" when you
are ready to read the meter.
30 VA C (for CCW rotation to
target)
Table 4
Checking the Rotator Resistances
from the ground
You may possibly avoid bringing the rotator
down from the tower by making electrical
resistance checks on the control cable.
Disconnect the control cable from the control
box. Check for the following resistances:
DescriptionPin #'sApproximate Resistance (ohms)
Brake Solenoid1-20.75 + cable resistance
1/2 Motor Winding1-82.5 +cable resistance
1/2 Motor Winding1-42.5 +cable resistance
1/2 Motor Winding + switch1-62.5 +cable resistance
Entire Motor4-84.5 + cable resistance
Right Limit Switch5-80 +cable resistance
Left Limit Switch4-60 + cable resistance
Entire Pot3-7500 + cable resistance
Pot Arm to + End1 - 30 to 500 ( 0 at full CCW)
Pot Arm to - End1-70 to 500
If service is required, the unit must be packedFor units that are in warranty, no charge will be
securely and sent prepaid to:made for any repair work required. Include a
copy of your sales receipt. For out-of-warranty units, call the Warranty Service Department for prices.
Hy-gain
308 Industrial Park
Starkville, MS 39759 USA
(662) 323-9538 FAX: (662) 323-6551
Ph:
The price includes rebuilding the unit, replacing
all defective and/or worn parts, and return freight
charges. Hy-Gain reserves the right to change
prices at its option. When returning items for
repair, a check or money order for the repair
charges must be included. Be sure to include
your name, address, zip code, and telephone
number. Also, give a brief description of the
problem.
-
p
p
y
LIMITED WARRANTY
Hy-Gain Warrants to the original owner of this product, if manufactured by Hy-Gain
and purchased from an authorized dealer or directly from Hy-Gain to be free from
defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months for rotator products and
24 months for antenna products from date of purchase provided the following terms of
this warranty are satisfied.
1. The purchaser must retain the dated proof-of-purchase (bill of sale, canceled check,
credit card or money order receipt, etc.) describing the product to establish the
validity of the warranty claim and submit the original or machine reproduction of
such proof of-purchase to Hy-Gain at the time of warranty service. Hy-Gain shall
have the discretion to deny warranty without dated proof-of-purchase. Any evidence
of alteration, erasure, or forgery shall be cause to void any and all warranty terms
immediately.
2.
Hy-Gain agrees to repair or replace at Hy-Gain’s option without charge to the
original owner any defective product under warranty, provided the product is
returned postage prepaid to Hy-Gain with a personal check, cashiers check, or
money order for $8.00 covering postage and handling.
3. Under no circumstances is Hy-Gain liable for consequential damages to
erson or property by the use of any Hy-Gain
4. Out-of-warranty Service: Hy-Gain will repair any out-of-warranty product
provided the unit is shipped prepaid. All repaired units will be shipped COD to
the owner. Repair charges will be added to the COD fee unless other
arrangements are made.
5. This warranty is given in lieu of any other warranty expressed or implied.
6.
Hy-Gain reserves the right to make changes or improvements in design or
manufacture without incurring any obligation to install such changes upon any of
the products previously manufactured.
7. All H
8. This warranty gives you specific rights, and you may also have other rights which
-Gain products to be serviced in-warranty or out-of-warranty should be
addressed to hy-gain, 308 Industrial Park Road,
Mississippi 39759, USA
the problem in detail along with a copy of your dated proof-of-purchase.
vary from state to state.
and must be accompanied by a letter describing
roducts.
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